Fear The Lord And Be Delivered From All Your Fears Series

BIG IDEA:

THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD PRAISE HIM CONTINUALLY

FOR HIS DELIVERANCE FROM DESPERATE SITUATIONS

I. (:1-3) PRAISE = OUR PRIMARY MISSION

Do you ever wonder what God’s will is for your life? To Praise Him all the time!

A. (:1) Bless the Lord for Rescuing You /

Don’t Blame the Lord for your Predicament

“I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

B. (:2) Boast in the Lord /

Don’t Boast in Yourself

“My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear it and rejoice.”

C. (:3) Beckon Others to Join You in Worship /

Don’t Become a Lone Ranger

“O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.”

II. (:4-7) DELIVERANCE = GOD’S ANSWER TO THOSE WHO CRY FOR HELP

A. (:4) Deliverance from Fears /

Seek the Lord

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me;

And delivered me from all my fears.”

B. (:5) Deliverance from Shame /

Look to the Lord

“They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces shall never be ashamed.”

C. (:6) Deliverance from Troubles /

Cry for Help

“This poor man cried and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.”

D. (:7) Deliverance from Dangers /

Fear the Lord

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,.And rescues them.”

III. (:8-14) THE FEAR OF THE LORD = THE KEY TO DELIVERANCE

A. (:8) The Fear of the Lord is Consistent with the Goodness of the Lord

"O taste and see that the Lord is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

B. (:9-10) The Fear of the Lord Guarantees God’s Providential Care

"O fear the Lord, you His saints;

For to those who fear him, there is no want.

The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;

But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.”

C. (:11-14) Instruction in the Fear of the Lord

“Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

1. (:12) Prognosis for the Fear of the Lord

enjoy a good, long life

“Who is the man who desires life,

And loves length of days that he may see good?”

2. (:13-14) Prescription for the Fear of the Lord

a. (:13) Guard what you say

"Keep your tongue from evil"

"and your lips from speaking deceit "

b. (:14a) Guard what you do

"Depart from evil"

"do good"

c. (:14b) Guard your relationships

"Seek peace"

"and pursue it "

IV. (:15-18) DELIVERANCE = GOD’S ANSWER TO THOSE

WHO CRY FOR HELP

A. (:15-17) To the Righteous -- but not to evildoers

1. God’s eyes are Attentive

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous”

2. God’s ears are Attentive

“And His ears are open to their cry”

3. God’s face set Against Evildoers

“The face of the Lord is against evildoers,

To cut off the memory of them from the earth.”.

4. Summary: God Delivers the Righteous

“The righteous cry and the Lord hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.”

B. (:18) To the Humble -- but not to the proud

1. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted”

2. “And saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

V. (:19-22) DELIVERANCE = NO PROBLEM NO MATTER

HOW DESPERATE THE SITUATION

A. (:19-21) Desperate Situation

1. (:19) Multitude of Afflictions

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous;

But the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

2. (:20) Maximum Physical Danger

“He keeps all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.”

3. (:21) Many wicked enemies

“Evil shall slay the wicked;

And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.”

B. (:22) Guaranteed Deliverance

“The Lord redeems the soul of His servants;

And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) Verses 1-4 could be the theme of the Book of Psalms. Are we rallying our brothers and sisters in the Lord to worship and praise the Lord whole-heartedly? Do we actively boast in the Lord for the deliverances He has accomplished on our behalf?

2) Consider the significance of the Lord’s Supper in light of vs. 8 -- "taste and see that the Lord is good ..." The one who has manifested His goodness in

offering His life on our behalf will surely not withhold from us any good thing.

3) What type of legacy of a good name and reputation will you leave behind when the Lord takes you home? (cf. the lack of remembrance which is a form of God’s judgment on the wicked – vs. 16)

4) Why do the righteous have so many afflictions (vs. 19)? Are we actively taking refuge in the Lord? How do we go about that? The great thing about being.brokenhearted and crushed in spirit (vs. 18) is that we are then ripe for God’s blessing.

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